Dress-supporter



(No Model.)

M. J. MQLEOD; DRESS SUPPORTER- Nom 597,428. Patented'Jan. 18, 1898.

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UNITED STATES ATnNT Orriciz.

hflARY J. BICIJEOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DRESS-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,428, dated January 18, 1898.

Application filed June 5, 1897. Serial No. 639,535. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY J. MoLnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dress-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a dresssupporter, the object of the same being mainly to transfer the weight of the skirts to the corset, so that such weight will not fall upon the hips, but will be distributed to different points; and a further object is to support the dress at the back in such a manner that it will not sag, but will hang evenly and gracefully from over the hips and will fit snugly and neat-1y around. the waist.

My invention consists of certain novel fea tures to be hereinafter described and. then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a rear perspective view of a form of corset, showingmy invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear perspective view of my improved skirt-supporter. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the practical use of my invention; and 4 is a broken or fragmental view of my device, showing thetwo skirts supported therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a corset to which my invention is applied and by which the same is supported. Applied to the contracted or waist portion of the corset, so as to fit against the small of the back, is a back band or strip B, preferably of flexible metal, so as not to be rigid or stiff, and to which, through eyes I) at the ends thereof, are attached straps C O, of suit-able material, the free ends of which are adapted to be connected by means of a suitable fastening device D, whereby the back band or strip and straps, which together form a belt, can be applied around the contracted or waist portion of the corset. The supports for the backband B consist of props or arms E, which are pivoted, at their upper ends by means of pivots e to the back-band, so that they can be moved and adjusted relatively to each other, according to the size of the hips: Through perforations or holes (2' at the lower ends of the props or arms E the stitches or other suit able fastening means which secure the de vice to the corset, as shown clearly in Fig. l, are passed. The belt portion of the device is not directly attached to the corset and therefore the pressure of the same can always be removed by unfastening the fastening device D, and the back-band can fall away from the corset, so that the lower part of the waist can be easily tucked under.

For supporting the undcrskirt g the back band or strip B has formed on its lower edge a suitable andindefinite number of outwardly and upwardly projecting hooks f, which are engaged by means of loops or eyes F, which are sewed to the upper part or said underskirt g.

The dress or skirt 71. itself is equipped at its upper part with double hooks H, sewed or otherwise suitably applied to the dress. The bent portions of the hooks engage over the upper edge of the back-band B, so that the dress is thereby directly supported from the same. The means of support for the underskirt and dress may be of course varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I do not limit myself to the device shown for that purpose.

In applying my improved skirt-supporter to the corset the props or arms E are first adj usted, as shown in Fig. 1, to proper position according to the size of the person, the inner p.ir of props being applied adjacent to the rear edges of the corset, so that they usually stand in diverging position, as shown, while the outer props or arms are more or less inclined, depending on the circumstances. As the belt itself is not attached directly to the corset it does not prevent the lacing of the rear of the corset to the extent desired, as the inner props or arms always move in accordance with the extent to which the corset is tightened or loosened.

The weight of the dress is taken up by the corset and is not transmitted directly to the hips, the props or arms E holding or supporting the dress similar to the props of a clothes line; also, the belt composed of the parts B, O, and O can be drawn as tightly as desired around the waist without interference by either portions of the device.

An additional advantage is obtained by not attaching the belt directly to the corset in that in applying the skirts to the same the back-band can fall away from the body, so that the fastening devices can be conveniently reached.

Another advantage is obtained in that the waistband of the dress receives a snug sup port around the Waist, it being supported by means of the belt, and the hygienic principle of the invention is not to be lost sight of, as the Weight of the dress is distributed over the body and does not fall entirely upon the hips.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A dress-supporter, comprising a backband adapted to conform to the contour of the waist-line, downwardly-extending props or arms connected With the back-band at their upper ends by pivots extending at right angles to the plane of the back-band, in such a manner as to be movable relatively to each other, and at their lower ends adapted to be secured to the corset, and means for supporting a skirt from said back-band, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the corset, of a back band constructed to fit against the waist-line of the corset and being itself detached from the corset, whereby it is adapted to be moved bodily away from and toward the corset, downwardly-extending props or arms pivoted on the back-band, said props or arms being secured at their lower ends to the corset below the Waist-line thereof, and means for supporting a skirt from said back-band, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

MARY J. MoLEOD.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. L. WVHEELOOK, JAMES Bnvnnmen. 

